Hairpin clip



31353 1951 c. w. RENSTROM 2,559,797

HAIRPIN CLIP Filed rJ-uly 25, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Car];- W Rezwyi'zwm,

ATTORNEYS Jufly ilk 191 c. w. RENSTROM 5 9 HAIRPIN CLIP Filed July 25, 1949 z Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Qazfl; W9 Rensl'mm, B v

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 10, 1951 HAIRPIN CLIP Carl W. Renstrom, Omaha, Nebrl, assignqr to Tip-Top Products Company, Omaha, Nebr., a

corporation of Nebraska Application July 25, 1949, SerialN0'. 106,681

7 7 Claims.

, l l 1 'Il- 1 is i-nventionrelates to hairpin clips, particularly to hairpin clips of the helical spring type, adapted to retain locks of human hair in curled or other form and also adapted for general use as; clip or damp I t is an object of the present invention to provide a simplified and improved hairpin clip of durable and rigid construction, adapted to be manufactured at low cost from an integral length of resilient wire.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a hairpin clip which may be manipulated and used with ease and comfort, and without damage to the hair.

A further object is to provide a hairpin clip embodying pressure jaws particularly adapted to eflic'iently hold hair in pre-arranged form.

Another object is to provide a novel hairpin clip incorporating a helical spring and actuating elements emanating therefrom, whereby a highly efiicient a'nd firm spring action is attained.

A particular object isto provide a hairpin clip or" combined helical spring and fulcrum type.

Further objects willbe in part obvious and in part poi-rites out hereinafter.

The inventionand the novel features thereof may best he made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in

which:

Figure 1 is'a plan'view of one form of hairpin clip embodying the features of the present in- D Figure 2 is an elevational View of the clip'of Figure 1 Figures is anelevational view of the clip-of Figure 1, showing the side opposite to that shown in Figure 2; Figure 4'isa view'corresponding to Figure 2, but showing the clipin open, hair-engaging posi- Figure5 is a plan view of a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the clip of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the clip of Figure 5 showing the side opposite to that shown stiflal shape. The central portion of the v2 length of wire isiformed into a coil or helix to, the inner diameter of which is'preferably substantially equal to or Slightly larger than the wire diameter, and must in any casein the enibodiment shown, be' lessthan twice the wire 'diaihet'e'r". One of the wire ,portions emanating frofnhelix- I0 is formedinto short U -'shaped actuating element or loopfll, terminating at the helix end opposite that from which it emanates. and adjacent to the helix axis. .At the end of loop H, the wire portion is bent through an acute angle, as at T2", and is then formed into the generall LI-shaped pressure jaw indicated generally as I3, pressure j'aw' I3' in this manner being disposed .in a plane 'angulated acutely to that of loop ll. Pressurejaw l3 terminatesad' jacent the end of helix ll] from which the loop H emanates, and in substantial alignment with the helix axis, and the wire portion emanating from the pressure jaw is bent inwardly'at substantially a right angle to form end portion l4, positioned within the helix p The wire emanating'froni the opposite end-pr thehelix is formed into a complementaryactuating loop I 6, in a plane substantially parallel and adjacent to that of pressure jaw l3, and angulated acutely thereby to th'e'pl'ane of loop ll. Loop It is desirably of a shape and size corresponding to that of loop I I. At the end of p l6, the wire portion, it will be seen, is dis"- posed adjacent the helix end opposite to that from which it emanated, and onset slightly from the helix axis. The wire portion emanating from loop is is formed into the gehe'rally U- shaped pressure jaw I1, substantially coplanar with loop l6 and approximately complementary to jaw l3, and the wire portion terminatesin the inwardly bent end portion It, received within the interior Of the helix. 'The' outer portions of the actuating loops and pressure jaws may be either rounded or substantially rectangular with rounded corners, sharpehrners being" found. uncomfortable'to the user and detrimental to the hair.

Pressure jaw [3 adjacent bend I2 is desirably formed into a hilifip [9, whereby thehlimliied portion of the pressure jaw is maintainedin somewhat spaced relationship to pressure'jaw i1 when the jaw ends are together. Pressure jaw I3 desirably is" also transversely climpd, as shown, along its length from hump [9" substantially to the end 2]: thereof. The complementary pressurejaw' ll'i's preferably of lesser Width than jaw 13, and preferamy' is pfd'g iisively' narrowed alongits 1ength"rrsmthe uase portion thereof to the jaw end 22. Pressure law I! is also slightly longer than is jaw l3, so that the end 22 overhangs and normally engages end 21, thereby limiting the movement of the jaws into adjacency under the influence of helix ill. Helix l0, it will be readily understood, is formed so that its normal tendency is to efiect angular divergence of the wire portions emanating therefrom, so that the helix exerts a spring action tending to angularly separate the actuating loops II and I6, and thereby urge the pressure jaws l3 and I1 extending from the loops into their normal closed, or adjacent, position.

It will be noted that by the above-described configuration of the pressure jaws, in normal closed position they tend to assume a slightly overlapping relationship, which has been found to effect an outstandingly eflicient and permanent gripping action upon locks of hair engaged therebetween. Thiseffect may be enhanced by displacing the jaw end 2| upwardly between its ends to prbvide a recessed portion 23, adapted to receive the narrower jaw end 22, 'whereby theside portions of the wider pressure jaw l3,

.especially at the low points of the crimping corrugations thereof, lie in substantially the same plane as the side portions of jaw M. It will be readily recognized that with the pressure jaws so disposed relative to each other, locks of hair engaged therebetween are to a degree wrapped around the narrower pressure jaw l1, thereby assuming a curved configuration. This peculiar gripping action upon strands or looks of hair has been found to most effectively and efiiciently hold the hair so engaged in its pro-arranged form.

- The clip, when used, may be grasped by the loops H and I6 held between the fingers of the users hand, and by forcing the loops toward each other, the pressure jaws will be pivoted into angularly spaced relationship, as illustrated inFigure 4. The clip may then be placed about the lock or strand of hair to be engaged thereby,

and the loops thereupon released, whereby the jaws are caused by the spring action of helix ID to assume their normal closed position, en-

gaging the lock of hair therebetween and firmly holding the hair until the clip is removed. By .reason of the hump 19, the outer portions of the pressure jaws will lie in approximately parallel planes 'when the jaws are separated slightly by a 'lock of hair, in this manner exerting substantially equal pressure along their operative length. The spring action of the helix may be assisted and the clip greatly rigidified by insuring that each of the wire end portions 84 and I8 protrudes sufficiently from the helix to act as a fulcrum for the non-adjacent pressure jaw. This is conveniently accomplished,

in the embodiment shown, by making each of the end portions i and [8 of a length substantially greater than one-half the axial length of the helix. By this expedient, it will be readily recognized that when theend portions are inserted into the helix into "abutting relationship with each other, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1, each will protrude a discrete distance from the end of the helix. If desired, the inner diameter of the helix may besubstantially the same as the wire diameter, whereby-the wire end portions M and I8 may be frictionally retained therein, in this manner as- -suring the desired positioning of the wire end portions and the protruding sections thereof. As

an, alternative, or to further insure fixed engagement of the wire end portions, the helix may be slightly flattened or compressed after emplacement of the end portions therein in desired position. It will be evident that should the inner diameter of the helix be equal to or greater than twice the wire diameter, it will be possible for the end portions to overlap within the helix, making difficult the proper positioning of the wire end portions relative to the ends of the helix.

By reference to the drawings, it will be readily seen that in the opening of the pressure jaws by forcin the actuating loops II and I6 toward each other, the pressure jaws effectively pivot upon the outstanding sectionsof the wire end portions, the bend l2 pivoting upon end portion I8, and the wire section joining loop IE to jaw ll pivoting upon end portion M. The wire sections pivoting upon the aligned end portions of the clip, it will be noted, are upon opposite sides of the helix axis, this feature particularly contributing to the firmness and rigidity of the clip in use.

In employment for securing locks or strands of hair in position durin drying or other treat? ment, the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 is desirably employed with the fiat side thereof, that is, the side comprising loop l6 and jaw 17, adjacent the head of the user. Employed in this manner, the clip is quite comfortable and may be worn for long periods of time with no feeling of discomfiture or contact. The device bein formed preferably of wire of round cross section, and embodying no sharp edges or curves, it may be employed with no damage to individual hairs or other strands engaged thereby, and may be position in and removed from the hair without scratching or otherwise damaging the scalp.

In Figures 5 to 8 is shown a further embodi;

3 ment of the invention, of somewhat different form. In this embodiment, the central portion of the wirelength is similarly formed into a helix H], of proper internal diameter as previously set forth. The respective wire portions emanating from opposite ends of the helix are disposed in diverse planes angulated acutely relative to each other, constituting complementary actuating elements 24, as may be seen in Figures 5. and 6. The wire portions emanating from actuating elements 24 are bent sharply inwardly to opposite sides of a common plane intermediate the planes of the actuating elements, and the wire emanatin from the inwardly bent portions 25 thus formed is fashioned into complementary. substantially parallel U-shaped pressure jaws 21 and 28. Pressure jaw 21 may be transversely crimped and correspond generally to the pressure jaw 13 of the modification previously described, and pressure jaw 28 is desirably formed into a longer and narrower shape, as in the case of pressure jaw I1 of the previous modification, and for similar reasons.

The wire portions emanating from'the pressure jaws are bent outwardly to the plane of the actuating elements 24, forming matching bent portions 26, and thence in the planes of actuating elements 24 to the ends of the helix, forming matching actuating elements 24, the Wire end portions 29 being inwardly bent and received within the ends of the helix. As previously stated, the helix may be flattened or compressed to retain the end portions, or maybe of suitable diameter to frictionally retain .them, a lthough in this modification it is not necessary shown in Figure 6, with theouter ends of the jaws in engagement, by the springaction of the helix, exerted through the actuating elements emanating therefrom. The clip may be opened and the pressure jaws pivotally separated by pressure applied (as by the fingers) to vtheactuating elements 24, in a direction tending ;to 'move the pairs thereof towardeach other, as-illustrated in Figure 8'. So held and opened,.the clip may be inserted into the hair as previously described, preferably with the fiat pressure jaw 28 thereof adjacent-the scalp for obvious reasons, and then released to normally closed positio-nto engage and retaina lock or strand of vhair in the desired configuration. This modification of the invention is somewhat simpler to manufacture than is that of Figures 1 to 4, yet embodies similar advantages in substantially equal degree.

While particularly adapted for use as a hairpin clip, it will be understood that the device of this invention may be employed otherwise, as for general clipping and clamping purposes. For purposes requiring varying amounts of spring action and resistance to bending, it will be obvious that wire of correspondingly varying diameter and resilience may be employed.

It will thus be seen that there has been provided by this invention a structure in which the various objects hereinbefore set forth, together with many practical advantages, are successfully achieved. As various possible embodiments may be made of the mechanical features of the above invention, all without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter hereinbefore set forth or shown in the accompanyin drawings is to be interpreted as 11- lustrative, and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A hairpin clip constructed from an integral length of resilient wire, comprising a helix formed in the central portion of the wire, the inside diameter of said helix being substantially equal to the diameter of the wire, a pair of complementary jaw actuating elements formed in the wire portions emanating from said helix, and a pair of complementary U-shaped jaw members formed in the wire portions emanating from said actuating elements, said jaw members terminating in inwardly turned end portions frictionally retained within the ends of the helix.

2. A hairpin clip constructed from an integral length of resilient wire, comprising a helix formed in the central portion of the wire, the inside diameter of said helix being substantially equal to the diameter of the wire, a pair of complementary jaw actuating elements formed in the wire portions emanating from said helix, and a pair of complementary U-shaped jaw members formed in the wire portions emanating from said actuating elements, one of said jaw members being longer and narrower than the other and the wider of said jaw members being transversely crimped, said jaw members terminating in inwardly turned end portions frictionally retained within the ends of the helix. 1.

3. A hairpin clip constructed from an integral 6 lengthof resilient wire, comprising a helixE-formed iILthe central portion of the wire, the inside-diameter of said: helix being substantially equalto the diameter of the wire, apair of complementary jaw actuating elements formed in the wire portions emanatingfrom said helix, said actuating elements lying in acutely divergent planes, the wire'portions-emanating from said actuating elements-being bent inwardly to opposite sides of a common plane intermediate said actuating-elm ments,-and a pair of complementary U-shaped jaw members formed in the wire portions emanating from said inwardly bent portions, said jaw members being substantially parallel to said coinmon-planeone-of said jaw members being longer and narrower than the other'and the wider of said jaw members being transversely crim'ped',

the wire portions emanating from said jaw members being bent outwardly to the planes of said actuatingelements, and the wire ends lying in the jaw members terminating in inwardly turned end portions frictionally retained within the ends of said helix, one of said jaw members being longer and narrower than the other, the portions of said jaw members adjacent said helix being acutely divergent to constitute jaw actuating portions, said jaw members outward of said divergent portions being bent inwardly to cross each other, and the outer portions of said jaw members lying in substantially parallel, contiguous planes.

5. A hairpin clip constructed from an integral length of resilient wire, comprising a helix formed in the central portion of said wire, the inside diameter of said helix being substantially equal to the diameter of the wire, a pair of complementary actuating loops formed in the wire portions emanating from said helix and extending rearwardly therefrom in acutely diverse planes, said loops terminating adjacent the ends of said helix, and a pair of complementary LI-shaped jaw members formed in the wire portions emanating from said loops and extending forwardly from said helix in substantially parallel planes, the wire ends emanating from said jaw members being turned inwardly into said helix and frictionally retained therein, each of the inwardly turned wire end portions being greater in length than half the length of said helix, whereby with their ends abutting inside said helix, each of said end portions protrudes sufficiently therefrom to constitute a fulcrum for the non-adjacent jaw member.

6. A hairpin clip constructed from an integral length of resilient wire, comprising a helix formed in the central portion of said wire, the inside diameter of said helix being substantially equal to the diameter of the wire, a pair of complementary actuating loops formed in the wire portions emanating from said helix and extending rearwardly therefrom in acutely diverse planes, said loops terminating adjacent the ends of said helix, and a pair of complementary U-shaped jaw members formed in the wire portions emanating from said loops and extending forwardly from said helix in substantially parallel planes, the wire ends emanating from saidj'aw members being turned inwardly into said helix and frictionally retained therein, one of said jaw members being longer and narrower than the other and the wider of said jaw members being transversely crimped.

'7. A hairpin clip constructed from an integral length of resilient wire, comprising a helix formed in the central portion of said wire, the inside diameter of said helix being substantially equal to the diameter of the wire, a pair of complementary actuating loops formed in the wire portions emanating from said helix and extending rearwardly therefrom in acutely diverse planes, 'said loops terminating adjacent the ends of said helix, and a pair of complementary U-shaped jaw members formed in the wire portions emanating from said loops and extending forwardly from said helix in substantially parallel planes, one of said jaw members being longer and narrower than the other and the wider of said jaw members being transversely crimped, the wire ends emanating from said jaw members being turned inwardly into said helix and frictionally retained therein, each of the inwardly turned wire end portions being greater in length than half the length of said helix, whereby with their ends abutting inside said helix each of said end portions protrudes suificiently therefrom t constitute a fulcrum for the non-adj acent jaw member.

CARL W. RENSTROM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number I Name Date 1,179,452 Parker Apr. 18, 1916 1,332,287 Chapman Mar. 2, 1920 1,360,614 Berry et a1 Nov. 30,1920 2,046,781 Head July 7, 1936 2,101,742 Lognion Dec. 7, 1937 2,113,991 Larsen Apr. 12, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 780,508 France Feb. 4,1935 

